Brian,
You should be able to run your hands a few inches away from the furnace and
feel the heat coming from any gap.
I fixed my gap by buttering down some black furnace cement. While wet, cover
with some cardboard and fit the parts together. Then bring up the furnace
slowly. The cardboard burns up and puts down a layer of ash which prevents
sticking. The cement conforms to the surface. Worked great for me.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of confed2001
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 7:21 PM
To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [gingery_machines] Re: Electric furnace parts update
Ron,
The Elements you use are the same thing I had. (I say had `cause my pot had
a blowout on my last melt, and shorted out the element!) Anyway, the
controller is homemade and uses 2 SCRs that are rated at 600V / 70amp. This
is tied into a Lutron dimmer switch. The switch comes with a very low rated
triac so that was replaced with one rated for 400v.
After thinking it over I really don't think it's the controller so much as I
am just losing heat from the seams between the base, body, & lid. Most
likely it is between the body & lid. I've ordered a new heating element &
should have it in by the end of the week. I plan on installing it this
weekend, and running it at night. Kill the lights out side the shop & see
what I can see.
As for the refractory we once had a foundry here in Louisiana (that was
knocked out by Katrina). I got two 5 gal tubs of high temp cement from them
for nothing, and used that for the base & lid. The body has an inner wall of
fire bricks that have been notched for the heating element, and between that
& the outer metal shell it was packed with more refractory. Short of making
another lid I was considering using that ceramic blanket you showed in your
post to help seal the gap between the lid & body like a gasket. I've also
been considering building the Gingery charcoal foundry with the remaining
refractory I have..but than again..
Anyway, thanks for all the help
Brian
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